Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-17

vaded. While the citizen has the power
!, to bear arms, the power to sell unwhole-
: some food in the market, the power tC
Craze his herds upon the land of his
neighbor, the power to practice law or
medicine without license, and to make
and sell ardent spirits in violation of law
yet the right, or liberty, if you prefer, is
inhibited by law under certain Circum-
stances. 1t is the manifest duty of the
state, ia the exercise of its inherent right
and power, to destroy whatever may
initiate against the peace, comfort, well
fare and progress of her citizens. The
right OF the state to exercise its power in
respect to the suppression of the liquor
traffic has been judicially ascer-
tanned by the highest tribunal in this
land-the Supreme court of the United
States, in 1916, in the license cases from
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire. These cases are reported in
3 Howard, and are worthy of a care
full reading. The court (Chief Justice
Taney) said
eff any state deems the retail and in
Eternal traffic in a:dent spirits injurious 10
its citizens, and calculated to produce
idleness, vice or debauchery, see moth
ing in the constitution Of the United
States to prevent it from regulating or
restraining the traffic, or from prohibiting
it altogether, if it thinks proper.
ga license to sell an article, foreign or
domestic, as merchant or inn-keeper. or
ftssictHsller, is matter Of Police and reye-
nue within the power of the state
cit is the settled construction of every
regulation OF commerce, that under the
sanction of its general laws, no person
can introduce into community maIig-
nant diseases, or anything which con-
taminates its morals or endangers its
safety.
eff the foreign article DE injurious to
the health or morals of the community, a
state may, in the exercise of that great
and comprehensive police power which
lies at the foundation Of its prosperity,
prohibit the sale of it.
"NO man can claim a license to retail
spirits as matter of right.
"If the state has the power of restraint
by licenses TO any extent, she has the dis
cretionary power to Judge of its limits,
and may go to the length of prohibiting
sales altogether.
ono such right as the one supposed is
purchased by the importer, and no injury
in any accurate sense Is inflicted on MIN
by denying to him the power demanded
He has not purchased, and cannot pur-
chase, from the government that which 1t
could not ensure to him, sale independ-
emily of the laws and policy of the state
"ltis not necessary to array the APP
palling statistics OF misery, pauperism
and crime which have their origin in the
use and abuse of ardent spirits. The DO
lice power, which is exclusively in the
state, is alone competent to the cOrreC-
ton OF these great evils, and all meas
ures OF restraint or prohibition necessary
to effect that purpose are within the
scope OF authority. There is no conflict /
OF power, or of legislation as between the |
state and the UuiCed States; eaCn is act
ing within its sphere, and fO- the public /
good, andI loss Ofrevenue should accrue |
to the United States from a diminished !
consumption OF ardent spirits, 2she will /
be gamer thousand fold in the health, |
wealth and happiness of the people"
1t is now, and has been for forty wears, /
ldciaily determined that "nO man can |
claim license to retail spirits as a mat
ter of right" This privilege NAV be &C
corded as matter of favor, yet the au-
thOrlty which grants the license may re-
woke the privilege at It's pleasure without
mourning peCuuiary liability The
state does not deem such an act an inva-
sion of the liberty of the citizen. 1t is g
police power, by the free exercise of
which the peace and prosperity of society
are made possible. Those who entertain
contrary views must of necessity ignore
the law of the land and reject the funda-
metal principles of our state and nation
IL government.
3. 1t is insisted that prohibition does
violence to the conscience of men, and
will make possible the union of church
and state. Such an argument is not
worthy OF serious consideration. It did
questionable service a hundred years ago :
n the struggle to divorce church and
state. This argument inferentialIy as
'umes that the people, under the subtle
influence OF prohibition, will lose their
nationality and progressive spirit.
4. Prohibition is not so much q reform |
Measure as it is fanatical crusade waged
gainst personal liberty by "long-haired
zen and shOrt-haired women" This is
n lnSlduOus suggestion, that the clergy
nd the good women of the country have
10 right to participate in the discussion of
question which so vitality concerns So
iety. Of which they are the truest con- I
ervat0rs. 1t would be 8 work of super
rogatiOn on my part to yindicate the
leroy against an asperSiOn so unjust and
0 libelous. They occupy q position in !
ublic estimation too elevated to be af-
7cted by such lmp0tent assaults. It is
n instance Of pigmy "tilting straws at
giant caSed in adamant." The donnlng
f the surpliCe does not forfeit the rights
f citizenship IN this free government.
he svocatiOn Of a clergyman gives him
n especial right to participate in. the
iscussiOn of prohibition, and he would
e derelict in his duty and unworthy of !
is position in society if he failed to exers
Use that right. The attempt to cast
ldicule upon the women who have mani
.sted so much interest in the cause of h
7mperance suggests the desperate straits e
} which the enemies Of social reform are b
riven in their quest of Legitimate argu- 3
tents. God, in the infinitude of His wis u
ON. has commissioned woman to guard it
nd protect the interests of society. Her il
lhuence constitutes the sheet-anchor of s,
ur social hopes and ASPIRATIONS If you c.
npair or destroy the purity of this heav- p
l-lnspired influence, the disiDtegratiOn {:
society is the Inevitable conSe quenCe iC
he suggestion that the clergy and the il
omen canEot entertain rational senti- b.
ent in respect of the question of 81
rohibition, is mentioned only that it
ay be despisrd. The question of prohi- tt
ltlon is one of policy and expedIency, tt
nd deserves to be considered on its Il
erits, dissOcisted from every extraneous b.
CT q until p Snh -.